Death in Service of Nation: Modern Memorial Day

Monday

May 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Today, across the United States and throughout Polk County, citizens will honor men and women who died while serving in the nation's military.

Today, across the United States and throughout Polk County, citizens will honor men and women who died while serving in the nation's military.Over the years, decades and centuries, the U.S. has been threatened by attack and war. Twice in the 20th century was war so involving that it encompassed the world.To ensure that our nation survived those dark periods of war — or would be prepared during peacetime in case the nation was threatened — soldiers, sailors and other members of the military gave their lives.We owe gratitude for the sacrifice that allows us to live free and with independence.We also have a time to honor everyone who served in the military — Veterans Day on Nov. 11. However, on this final Monday of May, it is the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation that we honor.

RECOVERY VS. DEATHYet, at the time when the U.S. is ending an extreme stretch of battle from a pair of wars — the Afghanistan War (11½ years and counting, 2,031 U.S. deaths) and the Iraq War (8½ years, 4,487 U.S. deaths) — warfare has changed drastically.Deaths of U.S. fighters in these wars have been small compared to deaths in earlier wars some of us can remember directly: U.S. fighting in World War II (four years, 405,399 U.S. deaths), the Korean War (three years, 36,516 U.S. deaths) and the Vietnam War (nine years, 58,209 U.S. deaths).While the numbers of fighters engaged in war may not align, the great difference is medicine and science. They have allowed terribly injured men and women, who would have died on the battlefield, to be stabilized with modern medical materiel and advanced lifesaving techniques. As a result, many could be treated and survive in hi-tech military hospitals.How do we honor these men and women, who, under natural circumstances or even with the aid of a military medic just a few decades ago, would have died with no one imagining any other outcome?With the ready availability of powerful explosives in today's wars of terror and insurgency, bodies of some who survived were so battered or blown apart that they lost several limbs, or had brain injury or paralysis.Certainly, one wants to live. However, if such deep injuries and profound difficulty regaining life abilities do not amount to the ultimate sacrifice, nothing could be closer.The United States must honor such veterans with the best ongoing medical treatment our nation has and with day-in, day-out help if needed. Such a commitment must never waver.Give these new heroes serious thought or prayer on this Memorial Day. Do so along with those who gave their lives for our nation.

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